Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities based on the Veteran's credible statements and medical opinions linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are related to her service-connected chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. The left hip disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability were not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable for the period on appeal prior to January 24, 2019.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for back disability was denied in a July 2002 decision, and this decision is final. The January 2015 rating decision again denied the claim on the merits, finding no link between the current back disability and service.,An effective date earlier than April 26, 2017 for the award of service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic and chronic vasomotor rhinitis is not warranted. The earliest possible effective date is April 26, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to May 13, 2016 is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of increased evaluation for low back disabilities and initial evaluations for radiculopathy of the right sciatic and femoral nerves.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate explanation of the evaluation of lay evidence regarding symptom onset and continuity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to issues with the severity of his lumbar spine disability, specifically regarding the effects of medications used during a previous examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and right hip disorder due to potential additional periods of active duty not previously verified.,An addendum medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's current cervical spine and right hip disorders are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle condition was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal during his Board Hearing. The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, spinal stenosis, and lumbar-sacral spondylosis.

The Veteran's initial rating for his left ulnar styloid condition remains at 10 percent, and the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition has been granted service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral hip, leg, and foot conditions are related to his now service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity neurological disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and insufficient examination opinions. The respiratory disability claim is related to exposure in Vietnam, while the low back disability claim involves secondary service connection.

The Board has identified new evidence that was not considered in the previous decision and has ordered its consideration. The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded to allow for further review of this new evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal of entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability. The effective date for the award of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis was denied as it is not earlier than September 23, 2014. A compensable evaluation for migraine headaches was denied. For the period prior to March 2, 2020, a 20 percent rating for lumbar spine disability with associated radiculopathy was granted; however, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but granted service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric condition secondary to hepatitis C.,Service connection was established for hepatitis C based on evidence of treatment in service and the Veteran's current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided are inadequate and requires new opinions to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to service.

An effective date of June 29, 2018 for a 40 percent rating for chronic low back strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (low back disability) is granted.,The 20 percent ratings for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity from September 1, 2018 through December 20, 2021 are reinstated.,The 20 percent ratings for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from September 1, 2018 through December 20, 2021 are reinstated.,An effective date of October 4, 2018 for special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is granted.,TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to a service-connected low back disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and, since April 16, 2013, sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, effective from February 19, 2010 through June 28, 2018 is granted.,TDIU on a schedular basis due to a service-connected low back disability and sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities since June 29, 2018 is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for updated treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions and lack of consideration of potential secondary service connection.